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Biography
Waltraud Louis died January 15, 2010, at her home in Spring, Texas. Visitation is Sunday, January 17, at 4-7 P.M. at Brookside Funeral Home, Champions, 3410 FM 1960 West. Funeral service is Monday, January 18, at 11 A.M., at Advent Lutheran Church, 5820 Pinemont Drive, Houston. She was born December 19, 1939, in Hanover, Germany. She was a mathematics teacher, including 10 years in high school, in the Waterbury, Connecticut School System; a church musician, trained in Germany, directing vocal and bell choirs; and a decorative and visual artist, expressing herself with uniqueness and flair, in her home and church communities. She is survived by her husband of 40 years, Rev. Robert; sons, Torsten and Sven; daughter, Corinna Bench, (Kurt); and grandson, Jed; sister, Dagmar Frieg; brother, Karl-Heinze Oberlein, (Elke); and numerous other relatives and friends. Memorials may be made to World Vision, P.O.Box 70200, Tacoma, WA 98481.
LISTING OF SURVIVORS, FUNERAL SERMON, BIOGRAPHY OF WALTRAUD BRUNHILDE (OBERLEIN) LOUIS, GIVEN BY HER HUSBAND, REV. DR. ROBERT M. LOUIS, AT HER FUNERAL SERVICE, AT ADVENT LUTHERAN CHURCH, 5820 PINEMONT DRIVE, HOUSTON, TEXAS
Waltraud Brunhilde (Oberlein) Louis
Died January 15, 2010
Age of 70 years
Survivors
Husband
Robert M. Louis
Children
Torsten M. Louis
Corinna M. Bench; husband, Kurt Bench
Sven M. Louis; lady-friend, Erica Binelli
Grandson
Jed Robert Bench
Sister
Dagmar Frieg
Brother
Karl-Heinze Oberlein; wife, Elke
Nephew
Cord Frieg; wife, Birgit
Niece Marit Zenk; husband, Frank
Aunt
Ilsegret Sambraus (recently celebrated her 99th birthday)
Waltraud requested memorials to World Vision
Romans 8:38,39
Ecclesiastes 3:1-9
Isaiah 43:1b
John 14:1-6
Death Hurts; God Heals
Death and life are inseparable.
We say that so glibly; it hurts to hear it.
We have experienced separation before, but we have always come back together again.
We have suffered pain before.
But—today’s is intense and deep.
We have mourned before, and we do today.
We have come together to mourn, to share our grief, to look for comfort.
Waltraud Louis has died.
We realize we are not as strong and invulnerable as we like to think.
This time it is happening to us, not to someone else.
We feel the loss of:
Wife,
Mother,
Grandmother,
Sister,
Aunt,
Niece,
Neighbor,
Co-worker,
Good friend,
Fellow-believer in Christ.
We are not concerned or worried about her.
She is in God’s care now, as she was throughout her life.
Her life was a reflection of God’s promise in Isaiah 43:1b:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”
We can trust and believe that.
We gather to remember,
To share our memories of who Waltraud Louis was and what she did,
And—to hear a word from the Lord.
We remember her walk, fast and intentional.
You could hear the click of her heels far away.
Her talk, a cultured accent.
She could speak five languages.
How she looked, red/blond hair.
You could always find her in a crowd; just look for her red top.
We remember the intensity of her teaching.
Her personal interest in her students.
Her practice to make a sound perfect; that little tuning fork she used.
Her way of always paying cash.
We remember her gifts, talents, capacities.
Needle work, drawing, sewing, painting.
Designed the dossal curtain for this chancel wall, which hung here for many years, and made the ALC’s national monthly paper.
Constructed the stage backdrops for annual conventions of the Southern District (while we were the ALC).
Made curtains for our house and yours, if you asked; maybe if you didn’t ask.
We remember her delights, enjoy-ments, hobbies.
Our three children, their progress and accomplishments.
Primary focus—on the family.
Her grandson, seeing him on Skype, and the family’s visits to see us.
International and domestic travel; the 10 cruises; annual trips to Germany to see family, friends and old boy-friends.
Trips to New York City for opera, musicals, the Radio City Christmas Show.
Being on-stage herself in five productions of “Broadway on the Green.”
Exercising, walking, swimming.
Dancing; after retiring she gifted me with 20 dance lessons, so we could do it with proper form.
She played solitary to relax, and enjoyed reading trashy romance novels.
We remember her idiosyncrasies.
She never asked you to do some-thing; she said, “You will do this now!”
If you ventured negative response, then you got the puppy-dog look.
We remember her love and devotion for her home.
Her underlying principle was love; a violation of this resulted in discipline.
Once she had made up her mind, her decision came to you in increments, so that you couldn’t protest.
We remember her love and devotion for the church.
This was awakened in her as a youth at a mission festival at Hermansburg, Germany.
She wanted to be a pastor; if that didn’t happen, then marrying one would do.
I met her on my first evangelism call here on July 12, 1967.
We married here on June 7, 1969, at 3:19 P.M.
We enjoyed a little more than 40 years; during that time we only had two shouting matches, lasting 15 minutes each.
We never went to bed in anger.
Our 40 years were given to mutual ministry in three congregations.
She handled the arts, music, and adult education, including choral and bell choirs.
Sometimes organ, piano and recorder.
And—she picked the Christmas trees and told you how to decorate them.
She also gave 10 years of service to the New England Synod, directing the Clergy Spouse Retreats.
Memories and images!
These memories and images come to mind, whether we want them to or not.
They bring pleasure and happiness, because we cared about her.
She meant something to us.
Our memories tell us that.
Waltraud left a mark on our lives where her life and ours touched at so many points.
It is good, right, appropriate to remember that.
It is also very painful.
We cannot add to those memories any more.
They have been abruptly cut off, because our relationship with her in this world is ended.
Her death leaves an emptiness, a great wound in our lives.
No one can fill it in or cover it over.
We are left with our sorrow and grief, questions and anger.
And—it is painful.
It is good, right, appropriate to acknowledge these feelings also.
We are glad that there is no more suffering for Waltraud.
But—we are also unhappy that we have to go on living without her.
To say all that is to be honest.
We have a mixture of feelings that needs to be recognized.
But—that is not all there is to be said.
For that more—we have to look beyond ourselves.
We look not to a place or thing—but to God.
He created and preserves our lives.
He sent his Son to us.
He allowed him to experience death as we do.
Then—he raised Jesus from the dead.
Because he lives, we too shall live.
If we had only memories,
Only ourselves to trust in,
Only our grief and sorrow to fill our lives,
There would be no point in going on.
None of that is enough to build a life on.
But—we are not left only to ourselves.
We can turn to our God now as we have before.
We know him as the Lord of life, who defeated death once and for all.
We have needed the assurance of his presence before,
That presence that stays with us and cares for us no matter what happens.
We need that assurance now.
And—we have it.
St. Paul puts it this way:
“For I am certain of this; neither death nor life, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
We can trust and depend on his love in the midst of our grief.
God cared for Waltraud Louis.
He continues to care for us now.
He offers comfort in the nearness of his presence.
We can call to him out of our pain.
He will hear and bring healing.
Our pain will not go away today or tomorrow.
It will be there.
But—God will be there, too.
He does not go away.
He offers us light in the midst of the darkness where we live now.
Security when our world lies around us in pieces.
And—a love that is not subject to death.
He is with us now, giving us strength.
Helping us to hold on when that is all we can do.
Assuring us of his care and compassion.
He sends us comfort in the nearness of his own presence,
In the presence of family and friends,
Who share our grief and care for us.
And—God gives comfort in his Word.
That word is HOPE…hope that nothing and no one can stand between us and him.
It is a promise that he will be faithful to us now as he has been before.
It is Jesus Christ our Lord, the Word in human form.
My family, friends:
Hear, trust, believe what God has said in Jesus’ life, death, resurrection.
That our lives are infinitely precious to him.
That death is not the end of our relationship with God.
But—death is a new beginning of that eternal dimension we entered at our baptism.
That life can never be taken from us.
We will discover both pain and joy in that.
We weep for Waltraud Louis, who is no longer with us;
And—we weep for ourselves.
But—we also can and will trust in the God who will wipe away all our tears.
It is in this God that all,
Living and dead,
Have life now and forever.
And—we covet that for Waltraud Louis.
Amen
Waltraud Brunhilde (Oberlein) Louis
Born December 19, 1939, in Hanover, Germany
Parents were Karl-Heinze Oberlein and Brunhilde Schoeberling
Baptized January 28, 1940
Confirmed in 1953 at Lister Kirche, where she was given her confirmation verse: Isaiah 43:1b
Education
Oberschule Diploma (Arbitur) in 1959, from Leibniz Schule, Hanover, West Germany
Diploma in Sound Techniques, Institute for Radio and Television, Nuremberg, West Germany
BS in 1982 from the University of Texas at San Antonio
MS in 1996 from Central Connecticut State University
Practiced Profession
Sound Technician at Radio Hesse, Frankfurt, and Radio Free Berlin (1960-64)
Producer at “Studio Overseas,” Frankfurt, (interpreter, editor, journalist (1964-67)
Executive Secretary to custom-broker at G.E. Posey Corp, Houston, Texas (1968-69)
Math Teacher and Dean of Students at St. Mary’s Hall, San Antonio, Upper School; also supervisor of all on-campus testing and honor days (1983-90)
Crosby High School, Waterbury, CT (1993-07)
Naugatuck Valley Community College, adjunct (1995-07)
Teikyo-Post University, adjunct (1995)
Northwest College of the Houston Community College System (2008)
Principal Music Education
Under Willi Traeder; also singing in his two choirs: “Niedersaechsischer Singkreis,” Hanover, and “Rupenhorner Singkreis,” Berlin
Director of choral and bell choirs, three congregations
Took two bell choir tours to Germany
Gave a bell presentation to one Southern District Convention
Memberships
Alamo District Council of Teachers of Math, San Antonio, TX
New England Teachers of Math, Waterbury, Connecticut
New England Atomic Association
Participant in a number of city, community, church and school activities, involving music, tutorials and athletics
Characterized as
Loving, caring, compassionate
Kind, giving, thoughtful
Yet exacting
Assertive, always able to get something done; when she entered the room, things happened
A shaker-and-mover in all her settings
Punctual: a 10 A.M. appointment meant exactly that; 10:01 was late; 9:59 was early
Person of integrity
Truthful, trustworthy, loyal
Goal oriented; there was a method to cross any barrier
Had the gift of organization
Reverent: Bible, meditation and prayer, every day
Obedient, no, that word would not describe her relationship with her husband
But benevolent: always had something to give
Supported two families through World Vision
We learned a benevolence mystery: the more you give away, the more you receive
After Diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer
We had the gift of time
To review our lives separately and together for meaning, purpose, direction, focus
To ascertain how we fulfilled our roles as individuals, a couple, parents, and professionals
Waltraud wrote a family tree, life story and a spiritual diary
Reviewed all the music concerts on tape and CD’s that she directed
Looked at all the family scrap books
Thank You
To all who supported us in this journey
Professionals, personal friends and hospice staff
Those who prayed, sent cards, called, visited, brought food
To Advent Lutheran Church for today’s events
Waltraud died peacefully, as I held her hand
She loved the Lord Jesus Christ
It is into his eternal keeping and her own fulfillment that we commend Waltraud to the glorious company of the saints in light
THESE ARE THE WORDS SPOKEN BY HER OLDEST SON, TORSTEN LOUIS, AT HER FUNERAL SERVICE:
To us she was just mom
But now that she is gone
We reflect on what made her so
Uniqueness and flair
In how she loved contrast, dressing in bright, flashy colors
In how she decorated her home in floral prints (bold, floral prints)
In how she directed with sweeping arms (I always worried she would fall out of the church's choir loft)
In how she sang (mom, you’re too loud, everybody can hear you)
Uniqueness and flair
In how she would not give up on her students
In how she was so German (German cooking, German Christmas traditions, German accent –my friends would always comment about my mom’s German accent, I didn’t believe she had an accent at all)
In how she had her guilty pleasures (always a McDonald’s wrapper to be found in her car)
In how she served God (through sacred music, through adult education, through the sewing of paraments and the dossal curtain)
Uniqueness and flair
In how she helped all kinds of charities (mom, hang up the phone, don’t give them ALL your money)
In how she insisted on creativity (she made it clear a home-made card would always be more appreciated than a bought one)
In how she could guilt you into doing what she wanted (we called it the puppy dog look)
In how she instilled in me her passions of art, music and teaching
Sometimes I felt embarrassed about her uniqueness and flair, but through it, she taught me to be myself, and not concern myself about what other people might think
Mom, you live on in your children
We love you
We will not forget you
THESE ARE THE WORDS SPOKEN BY HER DAUGHTER, CORINNA BENCH, AT HER FUNERAL SERVICE:
I have many memories of my mother, but my favorite and most vivid memory of her was the week after my son Jed was born. I was exhausted and overwhelmed, and she flew out to Ohio to take care of me for a week. When she arrived, she told me this powerful statement: "I am your servant." And all that week, she truly was. She cooked, grocery shopped, did laundry, and waited on me hand and foot. But what touched me most was that she would wake up in the middle of the night with me every night -- twice -- as tired as she was, and sit in the rocking chair opposite me as I nursed my son in the still of the night -- a process that would often take up to an hour. Sometimes she would talk and encourage me while she waited, and sometimes she would be silent and simply help me with her presence. After I was done, she would say, "Give him to me," and tell me to go back to bed to sleep. She would stay up with Jed and burp him, change his diaper, and rock him to sleep. It was in those moments that I realized what a servant my mother was. And I witnessed the simple truth that my mother loved me unconditionally past the point of exhaustion. In the weeks before she died, she told me, "I will live on in you. Help Jed remember me." She leaves a lasting legacy of service, creativity, generosity, and love. I love you, Mom.
THESE ARE THE WORDS SPOKEN BY HER YOUNGEST SON, SVEN LOUIS, AT HER FUNERAL SERVICE:
Mama, Mommy, Mom, Mother,
These are the names I am most familiar with. There are, of course, many others, one of which is teacher. You have spread the word of God to so many others through the church and you have also spread the knowledge of man. You have given a great deal of time and energy so that others have a chance, a prayer, and a hope at a better life, spiritually and mentally. Through music, you have sung the praises of God and listened to the accomplishments of man. Again, teaching and spreading your gift all over the world, through voice, bells, piano, organ and recorder, has changed lives and given people an opportunity, a prayer, and a hope for a better life. Now through death, you continue to be an inspiration. Anything and everything you have touched has blossomed and not for yourself, but for the benefit of others. For all the qualities and virtues you have shown and taught me are derived from your humility and selflessness. As you walk through the streets of heaven, I know that you and the other angels sing and praise joy and goodness. There aren’t enough words to express how much you will be missed. You have loved unconditionally, simply loved, and have been loved by your children, our father, your family, your friends, and God. You will always have a special place in my heart and in the hearts of everyone.
THESE ARE THOUGHTS BY HER GRANDSON, JED BENCH, AS CONVEYED BY CORINNA BENCH:
Dear Oma, I miss you. I keep going into your room to look for you and play "crane and trucks" with you, but you aren't there. I remember all the times you sang "Backe, Backe Kuchen" with me -- a silly German nursery rhyme. Now, whenever my Mommy says the word "Oma," I start to clap my hands and sing that song. I will sing it for you here, okay?...
"Backe backe Kuchen; der Baecker hat gerufen. Wer will schoenen Kuchen backen, der muss haben sieben Sachen: Eier und Schmalz, Butter und Salz, Milch und Mehl, Saffran macht den Kuchen gel. Schub in den Ofen!"
I love you, Oma. I won't forget you. Love, Jed.